Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers set to write and star in upcoming comedy film for Searchlight

Comedians and actors Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, also known as the hosts of the popular podcast Las Culturistas, are collaborating on a new film project with Searchlight Pictures. Both previously appeared in the Searchlight romantic comedy Fire Island and will now take on writing and starring roles in this untitled comedy.

The plot draws inspiration from the Search Engine podcast episode Why didnt Chris and Dan get into Berghain? and follows two Americans on a daring journey across the ocean as they attempt to gain entry into Berghain, one of the worlds most exclusive nightclubs.

Producers Olivia Gerke and Oly Obst from 3 Arts Entertainment are overseeing the project. PJ Vogt and Sruthi Pinnamaneni, creators of Search Engine, will act as co-producers. Richard Ruiz, VP of Production, along with creative executive Daniel Yu, are managing the project for Searchlight, under the supervision of co-heads of film production and development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas. UTA, representing Yang, Rogers, Vogt, and Pinnamaneni, facilitated the deal.

The announcement comes during a highly successful year for Yang and Rogers, individually and together. Both were featured in Varietys 2025 Comedy Impact Report, and their podcast Las Culturistas has hosted prominent figures including Mariah Carey, Tina Fey, Ariana Grande, Amy Poehler, and Lady Gaga. The podcast earned the title of Podcast of the Year at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in 2023 and 2025. In August, their annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards aired on Bravo and streamed on Peacock, with another edition planned for 2026.

Yang, a five-time Emmy-nominated performer, has been a key figure on Saturday Night Live for seven seasons and currently stars in the hit musical Wicked: For Good as Pfanee. He will also voice a character in Warner Bros. Animations The Cat in the Hat. Rogers, known for his work in Showtimes I Love That For You, recently appeared in Good Fortune, Netflixs No Good Deed, and Apple TVs Palm Royale. He is also on tour with his holiday show Christmas in December. Behind the scenes, Rogers has contributed as a writer to series including The Other Two and Q-Force.

Yang and Rogers previously collaborated in the 2022 rom-com Fire Island, directed by Andrew Ahn, which focused on a group of queer friends vacationing at Fire Island Pines. The ensemble cast included Conrad Ricamora, Toms Matos, Torian Miller, and Margaret Cho.

Representation for the duo includes UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham, while Vogt and Pinnamaneni are represented by Jackoway Austen.

Author: Chloe Ramirez